Dancing on Ice

With JESSICA TAYLORY

 “You’re in a bit of a bubble when practicing with your partner… but on the night, you’ve only got one chance to get it right.”

Singer Jessica Taylor said she has already taken a couple of serious tumbles on the ice and is terrified of being voted off in the first week.

“We’ve been learning some big lifts which we practice off the ice first, they’re quite hairy. When you first do the lifts on the ice it’s like, ‘Oh my God,’ but it’s been really good.”

She said: “We had a fall today it was my worst by far.  When I fell I hit my back, my head, my elbow and Pavel fell on top of me - I was quite shaken up.  I’ve got a cut on my elbow, I’ve also got a bruised coccyx, because I keep on landing on my tail bone every time I fall over.” 

“I am worried about being sent home the first week,” Jessica added. “You’re in a bit of a bubble when practicing with your partner - you can go over things again. But on the night, you’ve only got one chance to get it right. The judges are going to be strict so it is quite daunting, you don’t know whether they will like it or not.”

Jessica has the support of husband Kevin Pietersen but he will be away touring with the England cricket team for some of the series so she will be relying on her mum and friends to cheer her on. 

The former Liberty X singer said she felt she was quite fit in preparation for the series – but not as fit as her husband. 

“I try and go to the gym when I can, some weeks are better than others though. We’ve gone running together before but I just can’t keep up with him. He’s so fit that I had to go on roller skates to keep up with him!”

She has no hang-ups about wearing the costumes.

“Well I was in Liberty X, so it shouldn’t be a problem,” she joked. “I’m used to wearing rubber catsuits, bikinis, whatever! I don’t think I’ll be wearing those on the ice though!”

Jessica, who performed in a one-off TV skating show fours years ago, thinks she has some stiff competition.

She said: “I saw Ray on the first day, and he was brilliant even then. Straight off he was doing spins and little jumps and obviously he’s a dancer anyway, so he’s got that going for him too.

“I just love the show, I love everything about it. I love the fact that it’s a great opportunity to get fit and toned and it’s a personal challenge. It’s a big thing to undertake, it puts you out of your comfort zone, which I think is a good thing.

“I remember being absolutely gobsmacked when I first watched Dancing on Ice.  As the weeks go on, the standard really improves. I’d love to be in the show long enough to do the really hard stuff.

“I think being in the band will help me in learning the routines because I’m used to learning choreography. I would never call myself a dancer, I’ve never had any professional training, the only dancing I’ve done was with the band and even then I feel like I blagged my way through it all.

As well as the busy training schedule Jessica also revealed that she and former band mate Kelli Young are recording a new single.

She said: “We’ve been writing and recording for about three months - we’re hoping to release it in the spring, after the show’s finished. It’s just a question of fitting it all in. It should be easier to manage this time round, as it’s just the two of us. We’re older now so slightly more prepared for what we’re up against.”